Year 8 Term 3 Learning Overviews

Religion

Unit title: Sacraments of Initiation

Unit Overview: The Sacraments can be seen as visible signs of God’s redemptive love and through the Sacraments we encounter Christ and enter into the mystery of his death and resurrection. In this unit students will come to know why the Sacraments are so important to the Church and they will come to appreciate their life giving nature. They will also explore the Sacraments of Initiation more deeply so as to empower their lives as Christians.

English

Unit TItle: Close Study of Novel.

“Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with.” - Brodi Ashton

Unit Overview: The focus of this unit focuses on how composers can craft a hero through a close study of the fantasy novel Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riodan to develop an understanding of how perceptions about heroic characters have stood the test of time to form a rich literary tradition. Students will explore the fantasy (myth & legend) genre and address its entertaining purpose through investigation of character, language, narrative and structure, including the hero's journey and archetypes of the form. They will also consider the role of intertextuality in creating engaging and interesting narratives for contemporary audiences. Students will apply their understanding of the genre to compose their own narrative and are given opportunities to strengthen and extend their knowledge, skills and confidence as writers to inspire creative and perceptive responses. Students through their discussion, reading and responding will consider closely the role and qualities of the reader and writer in the creative process.

Mathematics

Unit Title: Length, Area and Volume and Linear Relationships

Unit Overview: Students will calculate the perimeter, area and volume of shapes, including circles and cylinders. This will require students to convert readily between appropriate units, select and apply formulas correctly and apply their knowledge to a variety of real life problem solving situations. They will create and display number patterns; graph and analyse linear relationships.

Science

Unit Title: Designed for Flight

Unit Overview:This topic explores the impact that science has had, and will continue to have, in contributing to finding solutions to contemporary issues. This unit explores the world of physics and the necessity of understanding forces in aeronautical design. Students will be given the opportunity to understand forces as they design their air gliders.

HSIE

Geography

Unit Title: Place and Liveability

Unit Overview: Students discuss factors that influence people’s perceptions of the liveability of places. They investigate features and characteristics of places across a range of scales that support and enhance people’s wellbeing such as community identity, environmental quality and access to services and facilities. Students assess the liveability of places and propose strategies to enhance the liveability of a place in Australia.

History

Unit Title: Depth Study 1: The Vikings (c. AD 790 - c. 1066) including elements of the Modern World Overview

Unit Overview: The fall of the Roman Empire and the spread of Christianity and Islam will be examined in relation to the impact it had on the world leading into the medieval period, and rise of the Viking Age. Students will learn who the Vikings were and where they came from. They will explore viking society and the achievements that lead to their expansion and the enormous influence they had on the development of Europe. They played a prominent role in the 300-year period historians call the Viking Age (c.790–1066 CE). Viking religion and beliefs will be investigated. Students will learn about Viking conquests and the relationships they had with subject peoples, including monks and the Norman invasion. Students will also examine the role of a significant individual in the expansion of viking settlement and influence. They will develop an understanding of the medieval world as well as conquest and settlement.

PDHPE

Unit Title: Teen Health and Expressive Movement

Unit Overview: In this unit students develop an understanding of health, safety, wellbeing and relationships through a focus on changing roles and responsibilities; loss and grief, accessing health information, resources and services, stress, sense of control, mental health, bullying, harassment and safe vs unsafe use of technology. Within the practical component of the course students participate in a variety of planned and improvised dance activities and explore the elements of composition. Individually students plan, perform and modify dance sequences and apply the elements of composition in other contexts.

Creative Arts- Visual Arts

Unit Title: Cubist Creations

Unit Overview: Throughout time, various artists and art movements have assisted in shaping, impacting and directing the course of art history. The work of Pablo Picasso and his influence on Cubism continues to inspire the art world today. During the course of this unit, using the Frames and Conceptual Framework, students will investigate the work of Picasso, whilst also looking at how Picasso drew from the world around him as a source of inspiration. Students will also investigate how various cultures around the world use artmaking as a part of ceremonial and everyday life. Students will engage with the medium of ceramics to create their own Cubist masks. Students will draw inspiration from the work of Pablo Picasso and African masks in order to design and construct their artworks.

Creative Arts- Music

Unit Title: Rock and Pop

Unit Overview: In this unit, students will be introduced to the genres of Rock and Pop music. Students will engage in a number of Composing, Listening, and Performing activities throughout the unit. They will learn about the roles instruments play within these genres. They will explore the various roles on both the acoustic guitars and the keyboards through a range of repertoire and forms of musical notation, including chord charts, guitar tablature and traditional notation. Performance opportunities will allow them to develop both solo and ensemble skills.

Technologies

These Units are Semesterised: Half will do these in Semester one and the other half in Semester two.

Unit Title: Herb is the word

Unit Overview: Students will participate in a range of experiences that will develop their knowledge of food and fibre production in Australia and the importance of these industries in the Australian economy. They will develop skills in the safe preparation of food and in the growing of a food product of their choice that can be used in the creation of an individualised food product.

Students learn about nutritious food items (and recipes) suitable for adolescents that incorporate a farm to table philosophy by utilising ingredients grown by students using a home or school garden. They will develop a self-watering system for use when growing their herbs.

Unit title: Need for speed!

Unit Overview: The Engineered Systems context focuses on how force, motion and energy can be used in systems, machines and structures. Students are provided with opportunities to experiment and develop prototypes to test their solutions. They understand how forces and the properties of materials affect the behaviour and performance of engineered systems, machines and structures. Knowledge of these principles and systems enables the design and production of sustainable, engineered solutions. Students will have the opportunity to work in teams to plan, design, test and build a CO2 powered racer.

Japanese

Unit Title Gakkou - School Life

Unit Overview: In this unit students will research the typical features of a Japanese school and how these may vary between Japan and Australia. They will develop an understanding of vocabulary specific to school life to express their opinion about school subjects and to discuss their school timetable and classroom objects. Students will also be assessed on their knowledge and ability to read and write in the Japanese script, Hiragana.

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